Record feeding means



July 8, 1958 F. .J. FURMAN 1-:1" AL 5 ,2

RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 31, 1954 8- Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TORS E J. FURMAN, O. E MONEAGLE ATTORNEY y 1958 F. J. FURMA'N ET AL2,842,250

RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Dec. 31. 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS F. J. FURMAN, O F. MONEAGLE BY D.R.WETJEN, AADOWD ATTORNEY F.J. FURMAN ET AL 2,842,250

July 8, 1958 RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec.31, 1954 IN VEN TORS F. J FURMAN, O. F MONEAGLE y D. RWETJEN, A. A DOWDATTORNEY July 8, 1958 F. J. FURMAN ET AL RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 51. 1954 F IG.60

IN V EN TORS F. J. FURMAN, OF MONEAGLE BY D.R.WETJEN, AADOWD d WWATTORNEY July 8, 195,8 'F. 'J. FURMAN ETAL 2,842,250

I RECORD FEEDING MEANS Original FiledDeO; :51. 1954 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FlG.6b

IN V EN TORS l EJ.FURMAN, QEMONEAGLE By DRWETJEN, .AADOWD 'ATTORNEY July8, 1958 F. J. FURMAN ETAL- RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Original Filed Dec. 31; 1954 FIG?- WWII/1m INVENTORS E J. FURMAN, O. EMONEAGLE BlgkR. WETJEN, A. A. DOWD JLWW ATTQRNEY July 8;,1958 F.- J.EURMAN EI'AL- RECORD FEEDING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Dec31. 1954 I INVENTORS F. J. FURMAN, 0.5. MONEAGLE y D. RWETJEN, A7 A.oowo ATTORNEY mm. r5

July 8, 1958 "F. J. FURMAN EI'AL ,8 2,

RECORD FEEDING MEANS OriginalFiled Dec. 31, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 E U 5MW a m m m T. O O N M.D m r A. W. O. A. n N, A 2N W m o W 2N J Q& m S ENF mmN m m v GE m m ov- K k 8 I I M n n m By D R WETJEN,

ATTORNEY 2,842,250 RECORD FEEDING MEANS I Frank J. Furman and Otto F.Moneagle, Eudicott, Dougq las R. Wetjen, Johnson City, and AlbertA.Dowd, Vestal, N. Y., assignors to international Business Machines Corp.,New York, N. Y., a corporationcf New York Original application December31, '1954, Serial No.

479,062. Divided and this application February 28, 1956, Serial No.568,340

11 Claims. (Cl. 197-133) This invention relates generally to. paperfeeding devices and more particularly to continuous record form feedingmeans for operating at high speed in cooperation with a recordcontrolled printing machine.

.This is a division of the parent case, Serial No. 479,062, filed onDecember 31, 1954, by F. J. Furman et al., for Record Feeding Devices.

With the advent of'high-speed printing devices such I as the wireprinters of the kind with which the present devices are illustrated, itbecomes necessary to provide means for advancing record material rapidlyand yet Without sudden shock of starting or stopping operation. In otherwords there is required a sort of harmonic feed motion with a slowstarting effect, rapid acceleration, and gradual stopping. In thepresent instance this improved form of movement is brought about by thein- .genious use of a variable speed drive motor, a random type ofengaging clutch and a perforated feed control tape which in effect givesa preliminary warning when a feed which is about to take place exceedsor falls short of certain spaced limits. The feed control tape isgenerally of the kind set forth in the Mills et a1. Patent-No. 2,531,885and other patents of a similar nature, specifically, 2,569,829,2,684,746, and 2,747,717. This present structure is of an advanced formin that in addition to other differences, cooperating with the tapethere are three sets of feed control brushes. There are provided theusual set of stop control brushes which sense control indicia or holepositions in the tape, which is synchronized with the movement of therecord material and thereby energize controls for stopping recordmovement wherever desired. In addition thereto are the other two sets oftape brushes which are forms of predictors engaged by a stop perforationbefore it reaches the stop brushes. The first set encountered by aperforation are called interlock brushes and they engage a tapeperforation 3% inches before it reaches the stop position. Controls areexercised bythese interlock brushes for calling the printer back intooperation after suppression, and for regulating the amount of time whichthe printer is held idle to allow time for record material movement. Thesecond set of preliminary brushes are for the purpose of speedreduction, because whenever a skipping movement of the record materialis of any appreciable extent the drive motor is driven at a fast speed(75 inches per second as contrasted with 25 inches per second at slowspeed) and it is necessary that the speed be reduced before the feedcontrol perforation reaches the stopping control brush. In other words,the secondset of preliminary brushes operate motor controls to slow downthe carriage movement before it comes .to a stop. The result is aharmonic motion which operates through pin feed tractors to draw thecontinuous form rapidly without tearing the marginal perforations; andthe motion V lateral positions.

vanced form of positive feeding means for handling I records of themultiple ply continuous form variety hav- I 'ing marginal feed controlperforations. The form's-are transported by pairs of tractor pin feedchains which are. driven through a random clutch and aided in stoppingby a magneticv brake. The tractors are arrangediin pairs, one pair belowa platen and the printing line and another pair .above the printing linewhereby a secure hold is maint ainedon the webs of record material asthey are transported at high speed. Novel forms of clamping arrangementsare'provided for keying the tractors .on drive shafts and. alsoforholding thedriving chains in desired Another object of the inventionis the design of'the feed device to be movable or. retractable for easeofassembly of the record material therein-and also for servicing Thefeed :device is mounted onta separate frame with a pair of extendingslide rods which pass through holdersin the printerframe. The :sliderods are long enough to allowretraction of the feeding means overadistance of several inches so that the record holding .tractorsandplaten which are normally spaced close to the printer heads may bedrawn away far enough toallow manipulation. of the record material overthe feeding pins andaccessgiven .to the feeding devices in general forrepairand servicing. A unique form of connecting means is providedbetween the printer frame and the retractable feeding devices. The twounits are held together with heavy latches and these latches areoperated eccentrically so. that there is a gradual release of thelatching instrumentalities when it is desired to separate the two units.In connection with .the latchingmeans there is involved another featureof'the invention is controlled further to come gradually to a stopwithout which is provided to allow adjustment for various thicknesses ofthe record material which may vary from one ply to a substantial numberof copies. Inorder to allow for thickness of the material, the latchingblock'which normally holds the two units very closely spaced may beoperated through an eccentric with a manipulative knobso that theconnection between the two units is loosened or shifted relatively sothat they are joined with a larger amountof spacing between them.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means-for shiftingthe record material slightly longitudinally so that the printing linemay be made to coincide with prearranged block positions of the recordmaterial. This is .done .by the manipulation of a Worm gear and wormwheel arrangement in the driving connections and interposed between thedriving clutch and the feeding tractors. In the normal operation of thedevice the helical ridges of the worm gear are used as a planetarydriving :tooth in cooperation with a driven sun gear. When a slight.adjustment is to'be made, a Vernier knob is turned and rotates the wormgear slightly for relative displacement. I

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyuntilting the lower pair of feed tractors when the feeding device isretracted to an open position. These lower tractors are normally in abackwardly slanted position and would be difiicultto reach were they notpivoted and allowed to swing to a vertical position when the unit isretracted.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose by 'way of examples the principle of the invention andthe best mode which has been contemplated for applying that principle.

.In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1;is a perspective view showing the main icome ponents of thefeeding device and the drive connections thereto.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation view showing the control tape and thethree cooperating sets of control brushes. This view also illustratesthe mounting'of the drive motor and the connections therefrom to thepairs of tractor pin feed devices.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view showing the random type clutch and theengaging and.disengaging control magnets.

Fig- 4 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3 andshowing the interior construction of the clutch.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the interior parts of theclutch showing the ratchet wheel control over the inner pry bar forengaging and disengaging the interior drive elements. a

Figs. 6a and 6b when taken together provide a front elevation view ofthe entire width of the paper feed unit.

Fig. 7-is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 2- and showingthe interior construction of one of the four tractor pin feed devices.This view illustrates the wedging action of a ring for clamping the unitin a lateral position to take continuous forms of a specified width. Theview also shows the manner of keying the tractor drive sprocket to thedrive shaft.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view showing the latching means forconnecting the paper feed unit to the printer and the means cooperatingwith the lower pair of tractor devices for tilting them when the feedunit is brought into the print receiving position.

Fig. 9 is a detail view in side elevation showing the latching devicefor holding the feed unit when it is drawn outward away from the printerand into a retracted position.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the latching devices shown in Fig. 8 andfurther illustrates the manipulative eccentric controls for varying thelatch plate positions in accordance with desired paper thicknessselection.

The main framework portions of the feed unit are best shown in Figs. 2and 8. In Fig. 8 it is seen that the base comprises a heavy casting 30which is formed with four downwardly projecting legs 31 each of which isformed with a central opening through which two heavy shafts orextension slide rods 32 are fastened and project towards the right wherethey run into and through guide blocks 33 and 34 extending from thesides of the printer frame 36 which comprises side channels or heavystructural rails 27 and 28 (Fig. 10). In other words, the two projectingrods extending from the bottom of the feed unit are secured thereto andare thrust movably into stationary hearings in the printer frame. It ison these two shafts that the entire feed unit rests and is retractableaway from the normally closed and latched print receiving position whereit is shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

Slidably mounted laterally on the top of casting 30 is another heavycasting 40 which is formed in the shape of an arch as seen in Fig. 2.This upper casting 40 rests loosely on the top of the frame 30 but iskeyed thereto as illustrated in Fig. 8 where it is seen that attached tothe lower right end is an L-shaped member 41 which projects into a notchformed in the side wall of casting 30. At the lower left end, casting 40is formed with a double shouldered extension 42, the lower part of whichprojects into a groove 43 and another groove 44 receives a projectingbar 45 which is attached to the top of a rearward extension 46 formedout of the rear of frame 30. An adjustable confining block 48 holdsframe 40 forwardly positioned in groove 43. There is a manipulativemeans for adjustingthe lateral shift of the carriage as a unit byshifting frame 40 relative to frame 30 as described hereinafter.

Turning again to consideration of the main framework of the carriage, itwill be noted in Figs. 2, 6a and 6b that the main vertical side frames50 and 51 of the feed unit are attached at the sides of frame casting 40and spaced thereby to hold many of the feeding controls and the crossshafts between these main frames.

Attached to side frames 50 and 51 are a number of brackets for holdingseveral sub-assemblies for different feed controls each of which iscoordinated with the feeding devices in general. On the right side frame(Fig. 6b), there is a bracket 54 which serves to hold the magnetic brakehousing MC which is in cooperation with the main tractor drive shaft 55.Attached to the inner face of the left side frame (Fig. 6a) is a bracket56 for supporting the parts cooperating with a drive clutch. On theoutside of frame 50 are a number of supporting devices including abracket 57 for holding the differential drive gearing including theworm, gearing for the vernier line adjustment device. Another form ofbracket or auxiliary frame 58 is the support for the three sets of tapesensing brushes and the cooperating contact rollers and driving pin feeddrum for operating the tape. A third frame 59 is supported by studs 60and it projects to form bearings for receiving projecting shafts to holdcertain of the drive gears. Extending across the paper feed unit areseveral shafts and bars which not only support feeding devices, but alsoact as stiffening means between the frames. One such shaft is the shaft62 which is the mounting means for the upper pair of tractor feeddevices. Another such device is the bar 63 which acts as the platen tosupport the record forms when they are receiving the blows of the printrecording heads.

The printer with which the paper feed is illustrated is of the kindinvolving a wire printer operating in serial order at high speed and isset forth in detail in copending patent applications Serial Nos.479,106, filed on December 31, 1954, and 479,107, filed on December 31,1954.

In Fig. 2 it is seen that the feed devices are driven by a motor M whichis fastened to the top of the upper casting 40. A blower B (Fig. 6b)keeps the motor cool. This motor M is of a special variable speed typewhich is disclosed more fully in the copending application Serial No.476,655, filed on December 2l, 1954, by W. F. Morgan. On the motor shaftis a pulley 66 for the main drive belt 67 (Fig. 6a), which is of theinner toothed type or Gilmer timing belt form for a more positive driveto a toothed pulley wheel 68 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 69 butconnected to a clutch drum 70. Through the action of the clutch controlratchets 71 and 72 and other parts, the drive of the continuouslyrotating drum 70 is at times communicated to the drive shaft 69 whichextends to the left (Fig. 1) to the tape feeding pin wheel or drum 73and a gear 74 which is the first of a train of gears in the drive.

The drive connections are not direct to the continuous strip advancementtractors but are made through two indirect connections for two mainreasons. The first reason for indirection is to provide a planetary formof connection wherein vernier adjustments or slight variations may bemade in record to printer relationship. And the second reason for thecircumlocutionary drive is to provide means for a change from 6 to 8lines per inch of spacing whenever closer printing is desired.

The drive continues from gear 74 and through a loose idler gear 76 whichis in mesh with a gear 77 which is loose on line space adjustment shaft78 but fastened to a hub 79 which also holds the loose continuouslyrotating part 80 of a toothed clutch 8081 normally connected by theshifting action of a lever 82 which carries rollers 83 to open theclutch only on occasion for manual adjustment. The drive continuesthrough clutch disk 81 which has on it a plate 84 with brackets 85, 86and '87 carrying planetary driving connections. -A worm gear 88 and ahelical gear 89 are on a short common shaft 90 suspended betweenbrackets 85 and 86. Theformer is in mesh with a worm wheel 91 fastenedto shaft 78,,

and the latter is in mesh with a mating-helical gear 92 which isfastened to .a shaft'93 extending through bracket 87 and carrying a spurpinion 95 which rolls around a gear 96 on a tubex97 fastened to thevernier adjusting knob 98 but loose on shaft 78. The outer line space'knob 99 is fastened to shaft 78. a

100 also fixed to shaft 78, and-then on further in the driving train.

At this point it is well to note how aivernier adjustment or slightvariation in the positin:of the record material is made relative to theprinting line, The vernier knob 98 is turned one way or'the other toliftorlower' the paper relative to the printer. When the knob 98 isturned, the connected gear 96 is also turned and cornmunicates movementto the meshing pinion 95. Since pinion 95 is on shaft 93 with thehelical gear 92, the latter is revolved and rotates the associated gear89 which in turn rotates the worm gear 88. This motion serves to varythe angular relationship between the plate 84 which is the holder forthe worm gear 88 and the worm .wheel 91 which is fastened to the feeddriving shaft 78. The planetary arrangement including worm 88 remains inconstant readiness for ordinary line spacing and skip feeding movementregardless of the relative adjustment through the vernier knob.

A frictional type of spring finger or detent 101 is fastened to the sideof plate 84 and carried around with clutch member 81. This detentextends over into contact with the periphery of a line space detentplate 102 fastened to the side of clutch member 80 and formed with aseries of regularly spaced notchesrinto which a V- shaped extension ofdetent 101 projects and is located as the knob 99 is turned by hand forlinespace adjustment. Detent 1'01 snaps into notch after notch when theline space knob is adjusted, and this serves for definitelimiration ofthe desired number of manipulated spaces.

For line space adjustment, the driving train of gears is operateddirectly by the outer knob 99. Prior to this, the lever 82 is operatedto open clutch 80-81. The knob 99 is fastened to shaft 78 and there isdirect communication of the rotation given the knob to the drive gear100 at the other end of the shaft.

Now that it has been seenhow the driving motion is communicatedindirectly from gear 7410 gear 100 (Fig. 1) through the intermediateplanetary adjustment devices, it is possible to trace the drive further.Gear 100 is seen to be in mesh with another gear 104 secured to theshaft 105 which is the axis for the idler 76 already mentioned. Thisshaft 105 projects towards the right and, at that end carries anothergear 106, which is fastened thereon and in mesh with a wide gear 107fastened to a sleeve 108 slidably mounted on a shaft 109. Normally thewide gear 107 is positionedjas shown to communicate the drive of gear106 to another gear 110 which is loosely mounted on shaft 105 but:connected to a collar 111 which also carriesa slightly larger ,gear112. Gear 112 meshes with gear 113 which .is fastened to the shaft 55already mentioned as being the. driver for the two pairs of sprocketsserving to actuate the pin feeding tractors. In other words, when widegear.107 is positioned as shown, there is a rather direct communicationof the driving motion through gears 106, 107, 110, 112, 113 and shaft55. The driving connections mentioned are proportioned for spacing:sixlines 1001116 inch on the record strip R adjusted by the feeding:tractors.

*When it is desired to change the relationship so that the motion isreduced to get a greater numberof lines per 7 I inch, then the gear 107,and a pinion 114 connected thereto through the sleeve 108, is shifted tothe right to disengage the connection to gear 110 and insteadtoestablish a more directconnection with gear 112. This is done to get aspacing of eight lines per inch. Thedrive connections then may befollowed from gear 106 through gears 107, 114, 112, 113 and sprocketshaft 55. V

The choice between 6;and ;8 lines per inch of spacing is made by theoperator and the gearing 107; 114 is shifted manually before the machineis brought. into operation and, therefore, the relationship between thespacing of print on the continuous record form R and the relatedfeed-control tape TP may be selected in the usual fashion by properspacing of the feed control perforations 116 in the tape.

Whenever the drive shaft 55 is rotated, the motion 5 is communicateddirectly to the upper pair of pin feed tractors UT1 and UT2 which haveextending pins mounted on chains to. engage several of the marginal pinfeed openings along the sides of all plies of the. continuous recordmaterial'R. The motion of the tractor pins upward serves to advance thematerial upward past the printing line which is coincident with theplaten bar 63. In order to communicate the driving motion tothe lowerpair of feed tractors, the shaft 55 is provided with a pair of attachedsprockets 118 onto which is drawn a pair of belts 1'19 and for drivingon opposite sides of the feed device. These belts 119 and 120 are of thepositive type which are formed with inner toothed construction tocooperate with precise timing relationships with the driving sprockets1.18 and a similar pair of sprockets 121 which are fastened near theends of a shaft 122 which is the driver for the lower pair of pin feedtractors LTl and LTZ. These lower tractors also each have several pinsengaging simultaneously in the marginal openings of the record material.Thus the four tractors serve not only to carry the record materialrapidly away from the platen, but also help to bring the material out ofthe magazine and into print receiving position without tearing themarginal areas when operating at high speed.

In order to aid in slowing down the rapidadvance of the record materialand to aid in bringing it to a stop with gradual deceleration, thedriving means is provided with a brake at the end of the main tractordrive shaft 55. The brake serves to reduce oscillations and reboundingof the feed parts after they are stopped and during printing. In thisway, paper shifting is avoided during the period of'printing. On theright in Fig. 1 it is shown that the shaft projects into a brake unitBR. This brake construction is better shown in the right of Fig. 6bwhere it is noted that the bracket 54 on side frame 51 holds thestationary part of the brake unit. 'On the outer end of shaft 55 issecured the rotating disk 124 which .is keyed thereon and is subject toaxial movement when the interior coil MC of the brake is energized. Thebraking construction is similar to that shown in detail in Patent2,747,717.

Now that the complete driving connections have been traced in a generalway, it is believed advisable to return to consideration of how the mainoperating clutch 71-72 is constructed and controlled by the double coilstart and stop magnets ST and SP. The parts for this clutch device areshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. It is pointed out hereinbefore that the leftside frame 50 (Fig. 6a) is provided with a bracket 5-6, and it is onthis bracket that a bar=124 (Fig. 3) extends to hold the pairs of coilsconstituting the start and stop magnets ST and SP for the clutch. Alsoextending from bracket 56 is a stud 125 which acts as the supportingmeans and axis for an armature pawl lever 126. The pivot 125 iscentrally located on a line between the two control magnets. Thearmature plate 127 fastened to .lever 126 is placed directly beneaththecores of the magnets on either side. When in the normal stoppingcontrol position, the lever 126 is rocked upward at the left by the stopcontrol magnet SP and when operated for clutch engaging or startingcontrol, the same assembly is rocked upwardly at the right in acounterclockwise direction by the action of start magnet ST. A contact 128 is closed by counterclockwise motion of lever 126 whenever the startmagnet ST is made effective. The rocking motion of lever 126 is limitedby an adjustable stop stud 130.

At the right end of lever 126 there is formed a tooth shape 131 whichcooperates with the ratchet teeth on the wheel 71 which is one of a pairof relatively movable ratchet control clutch wheels 71 and 72. Thecompanion ratchet wheel 72 has teeth facing in the opposite directionand is normally engaged by a toothed clutch pawl 132 which is formedwith a bent lug 134 overhanging the top of lever 126 to partake of itsmovement. A- coil spring 135 is coiled around the pawl shaft 136 andtends to hold the pawl 132 down into engagement with the teeth ofratchet wheel 72 and prevent it from rotating in a clockwise direction.When the lever 126 is operated counterclockwise by energization of thestart magnet ST, it not only lifts the tooth 131 away from ratchet wheel71, but it also actuates pawl 132 through the lug 134 to disengage 132from the teeth of the other wheel 72.

The object of releasing the two clutch wheels 71 and '72 is to allow theheavy spring 138 to operate and tend to draw together the two wheels inopposite directions a slight amount which serves to exercise an outwardcamming action on a pair of inner wedges or operating dogs 139 and 140which have outwardly projecting fingers 141, 141 and 142, 142 forengaging the inner circular area of the hollow clutch drum 70. Spring138 is at one end connected directly to the Wheel 72 and at the otherend it is connected to a stud 143 which projects through a cammingmember or pry bar 144 and also projects into a slot 146 cut into theother ratchet wheel 71. Member 144 is pivotally mounted on wheel 72 bymeans of an eccentric stud 147 which is adjustably rotated and lockedinto position by an attached plate 148 which is formed with an arcuateslot 149 through which projects a screw 150 to tighten the plate asadjusted. The position of the eccentric pin 147 is critical because thelower end of pry member 144 is formed with an overturned projection oroperating piece 151 which contacts with the left side of the lower endof the clutch engaging member 140. The two dog or shoe members 139 and140 (Fig. 4) are loosely held in a container 152 which is secured to abushing 153 fastened to the drive shaft 69 so that the two wedging shoes139 and 140 are not provided with any fixed pivot but rather cling tothe circular inner wall of ring 152 and are held in an inwardly clingingposition by a weak spring 154. A similar grooved retainer 156 confinespry member 144 axially. The two wedging parts 139 and 140 are in anabutting engagement at the top as shown in Fig. where the upperhorizontal edges come together along the line 155. It is at this point155 where the wedging members are rocked relatively to each other to ineffect be spread out and cause the four fingers thereon 141 and 142 tocome into firm engagement with the inner surface of the continuouslyrotating drum 70. The train of action may be followed by noting thatrelease of the two ratchet wheels causes relative motion thereof withwheel 71 coming in a counterclockwise direction while wheel 72 movesslightly in a clockwise direction. The result is that member 144 throughthe action of the strong spring 138 is rocked slightly counterclockwiseabout pivot 147 and tends to pry wedging member 140 outward through theofiset portion 151.

The pry bar 144 forces the shoe 140 against the drum 70. Since the shoe140 makes angular contact with the drum, it tends to slide along theinside surface of the drum. This tendency is restrained by the otherfinger 142 which is forced into contact with the inside surface of thedrum; This contact is also angular; therefore,

'shoe'=140-tends' to slide along the inside surface of the drum but isrestrained by the shoe 139 due to the abutting projections meeting atthe line 155. This process is repeated for shoe 139 to bring the lowerpart or finger 141' into contact with the drum by forcing it outwardwhile guided by the studs 157. With an arrangement of this type, theforces are gradually accumulated at the four spaced fingers to providethe proper buildup of frictional forces to the required torque.

Motion of the drum 70 is communicated from the drum through the twoshoes, and through the member 144 and studs 157 to the ratchet wheel 72and attached bushing 153 and into the shaft 69 attached thereto. Thenthe clutch parts and shaft 69 are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as shown in Fig. 3 as long as the teeth 131 and 132 of thearmature lever and pawl are held raised away from the ratchet-wheels.However, as soon as the start magnet ST relinquishes control and thestop magnet SP isenergized, the lever l2 6'is rocked in a clockwisedirection and the two pawls are dropped into the ratchet teeth,whereupon tooth 131 stops the counterclockwise motion of wheel 71 andthrough the pin and slot connection 146 (Fig. 5) operates member 144 torock it in a clockwise direction and shift the lower end 151 to drawaway from the lower end of wedging member and thereby free theconnecting parts from the drum 70 which continues to move in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). As this disengaging operation takesplace, the other ratchet wheel 72 is carried along for a slight extentwith one of the abutting teeth going beyond the left of pawl 132 butprevented from being retracted by the action of spring 138 because thepawl snaps into place before the wheel can move clockwise.

Although the various sections of the clutch parts have been referred tohereinbefore as upper and lower portions of the clutch members, it maybe pointed out that the clutch parts are operable in all positions ofrotation. In other words, the clutch is of the form known as a randomengaging clutch wherein the parts have no fixed relationship relative tothe driving drum, and the inner clutch parts are operated universally byouter engagement with any of the plurality of teeth on the ratchetwheels. For a high-speed device this is important because there is nonecessity for any parts to return to a home position. The clutch isavailable to start from any position and to stop at any position.However, the ratchet teeth on the clutch wheels have a relationship witha line space movement of the drive connections, so that rapid operationof the start and stop magnets is productive of single line spacemovement. -In order to produce such a rapid switch from the start to thestop operation, there is provided the latch contacts or clutch switchcontacts 128 which are closed by lever 126 upon a slightcounterclockwise start movement so that the clutch is barely releasedbefore contacts 128 are closed to call stop magnet SP into action for asingle-space operation.

It is noted hereinbefore that a control tape TP is provided to furnish aflexible form of predetermined programming for locating the record formswith respect to the printing line so that heading print blocks, itemprint and total print are started and stopped wherever desired on theforms. There is a tape TP produced for each type of form and for therespective length of form. The tape TP as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6a isan endless paper band which is either equal in length to the relatedform or a multiple fraction of the form length in the cases of shortforms. In Fig. 1 it is seen that the tape is a narrow paper band whichis driven by the pin studded drum 73 with the pins 158 thereoncooperating with a central line of feed perforations punched in thetape. The tape is advanced in synchronism with the movement of therecord strip R and describes a triangular path in moving around a sleeve159 at the rear and then passing successive ly around contact rollers160, 161 and 162, the latter being on the feed drum 73. The threecontact rollers or cylinders 160, 161 and 162 are'placed opposite threelines or sets of tape sensing brushes, interlock brushes IN,

speed reducing or slowdown brushes SL and finally the upper set of stopbrushes ST.

As shown in Fig. 6a the three cooperating contact rollers arelsupportedoutside the left side. frameon a separate small frame 58 fastenedto'frame 50 by]. extending studs and brackets. The driveshaft 69 extendsthrough frame 58 and carries drum 73 which extends outwardly. The othertwo contact rollers 1 160 and 161 are supported at the inner end onbearings in the frame and project outwardly without support atthe outerends. 7 p

The tape TP (Fig. 2) is held taut by theholder for the rearsleeve 159.which comprises an arm 164 which is rocked to the proper angularposition and secured to the side frame 50-by means of ,a.,nut :andSP-ing washer 165 acting on a hub of the arm. Whentit is desired to;change the tape all that is necessary is to loosen the arm 164 and slipthe tape outwardly oven thefouriguide rollers, i. e., after all sensingbrushes have been rocked out of cooperation with the tape. When anewtape isinserted, the arm is adjusted angularly tohold it taut. 1

sets of brushes and In Fig. 2 it is also seen that the three lines orsets of tape sensing brushes are mounted in a separately mov-' ableframe 166 pivoted at 167 on a stud projecting from the frame 58. Theframe 166 is in the form ofa channel with a U-shapedcross section andhasside plates for confining the ends of insulation blocks 168, three ofwhich are spaced between the frame side plates to-hold the sets ofsensing brushes. When frame 166.is in the operating position it closesthe contacts of a switch .169-fastened to frame-58 and it is in thisposition that a latch 17;0 pivoted onthe top of the frame catc'hes overa square stud 1-71jextending outwardly from one of the main side frames-50. When 'it isdesired to change the tape, the'latch '170'is lifted andthen the frame 166 rocks ;clockwise, -until-'it abuts against a stop rod172' In so doing it opens the contacts :of switch 169 and this preventsoperation ofithe feeding devices while the-mechanism is out-of theproper position.

Referring to Fig. 6a it is seen that, in addition to the insulationblock 168 for holding the'line'of brushes, there is also a comb-shapedinsulation member 173 which confines each sensing brush to aparticularpat-h on the'itape. These paths around the tape arealso'ttermed channels and it is in these channels where the tape feedcontrol perforations are placed differentially to predetermined variousstop and. start positions related to. positions on the continuousrecord-forms R. It. may be notedthat in the comb formation of guide:block 173 there are 13 notches, 6 on one side of the tape feedpins158.. and 7 on the other side. The extra'position, or 7th position atthe extreme right, is used for a common contact brush which carriescurrent to or from the contact roller. The other 12 brush positions areused mainly for several skipping controls and one is reserved foroverflow control.

Since the tape TP is moved in acounterclockwise'path (Fig. 2), aperforation 116 therein in any channel passes in succession first underthe related interlock brush IN at the bottom and next passes'th'eslowdownbrush SL'in the middle and finally reaches the stop controlbrush ST at the top. Since the tape is moved along 'with the recordstrip R during line spacing operation, the particular tape perforationof a certain channel may be anywhere short of the stop position brusheswhen a skip is initiated related to that particular channel. It is bymeans of these spacings of the three brush sets relative to the tapethat the controls are preconditioned before skipping is initiated by thepresence or absence of controls initiated by the particular tape holepassingor not passing the two lower sets of brushes. For example, if acertain channel is selected and it is immediately determined that theparticular tape-holehas not already passed the related lower brush IN,itis known immediately that the skip .isgoing to tween the two brushesand the skip involved is longer than nine line spaces but shorter thantwenty line spaces.

Therefore, the skip is to start at high speed andinvolve a shorter lossof printer time. Should a skipinitiationfind both lower controlsactivated, then that is a sign that the skip is tobe a very short oneinvolving less thanninedine spaces and it is to proceed at slow speedand'involvea still shorter loss interval of printer time or no loss atall.

At this point: it is Well to comment upon the effect that the cardreading printer has over the feed devices because it is the printerwhich responds to the punched 1 ecord card control and printson therecord form according to how many lines of heading data, item data andclasses of totals are called for by a particular group orgroups ofcontrol cards. The printer has group control devices, heading'cardcontrol by X and no X punchings in the cards and program controls forvarious classes of items and totals such as minor, intermediate andmajor7 controls. These controls originating within the card reader andprinterare productive of impulses which may be used selectively to control thespacing or long.;fee,d skipping operations of the record strip feedingdevices.

The channels of the tape TP are selected by'thereco'rd card controls inthe printer. As the cards feed they are sensed not only to select thedata to be printed, but also the dispositionof such printing byplacement on a form. In most instances the printer initiates feeding forline spacing or skipping and the tape controls effect stoppage asdetermined by the'holes in the tape. The exception is the overflowcontrol whereby the tape both initiates and stops an ejection of therecord material from the end of one form to the top of the next form.Tape channel selection is plugga'ble and of selective control from anumber of card controlled sources. It may come from X holes, inheadingcards, ;or digit selection holes in any card, or class of totals ontotal cycles, or by group changes without total printing. control areset forth at length in the Mills et al. Patent No. 2,531,885, issued onNovember 28, 1950. Other patents of the tape controlled feed devicevariety include Rabenda Patent No. 2,569,829, issued on October 2,1951,, .Bakelaar et a]. Patent No. 2,684,746, issued on July 27, 1954,and the Cunningham et al. Patent2,747,717, issued on May 29, 1956.

It will be noted hereinafter with reference to the wiring diagram thatthe feeding controls for double space, triple space skip to 1, skip to2, etc. are all pluggable to receive control impulses from the cardreader and printer. They take precedence over each other in the ordermentioned with single line spacing dominating all. The skip to controlsrefer to the tape sensing brushes as they are picked up in successiveorder so that when the skip to 5 control is plugged, it means thatthefifth tape brush is to'sense a tape perforation and control the stopmagnets regardless of tape perforations in all lower channel positions.Ordinarily it is for only the advances of four or more spaces that skipstop perforation con trol is put-in the tape to determine where aheadingis to start, where item impressions are to start, 'or where atotal impression is to be placed.

When there are too many related items to be recorded on one form it isnecessary to put the overflow items on a second form. In such cases theendsensing brush or twelfth brush of the stop brush set, in cooperationwith a perforation at the side of the tape, determines where theoverflow skip is "to start. Any predetermined posi: tion may be chosenas the last line of a form and the These forms of channel selectioncontrol tape punched in the twelfth channel at a corresponding positionto initiate overflow skipping.

The feeding devices operate at two speeds which are governed bythecontrol over the variable speed motor which is operable at a recordmovement speed of 75 inches per second for skips of more than nine linespaces, end at the slower speed of 25 inches per second for skips ofless than nine line spaces. These changes of speed since they are notabrupt are smoothed out in a sort of harmonic motion change or gradualvariation from high to low speed. The demand for high-speed operation isautomatically called for by a skip when a tape control perforation failsto make evident the passage beyond the slowdown brushes SL at the timethe skip is initiated.

The feeding devices are provided with line spacing controls for single,double and triple spacing. The selection of control is made by operationof pluggable controls described hereinafter with relation to the wiringdiagram. A single space control'is the normal operation and will takeplace invariably in conjunction with serial order printing unless thefeed controls are signaled otherwise.

The line spacing controls involve the use of the commutator 175 bestshown in Fig. 6a where it is seen to be connected to shaft 69 and placednear the outer face of the side frame 50. Cooperating with thecommutator are four sensing brushes best shown in Fig. 2 where they areseen to project radially from an arcuate block of insulation 176 whichis fastened to the outside of frame 50. In Fig. 6a it is noted thatcommutator 175 has a continuous metallic band in one area and a regularseries of separate segments or metal inserts spaced apart the equivalentof three line spaces. Cooperating with the continuous commutator band isa common line space conducting brush LSC (Fig. 2). The other threebrushes LS1, LS2, and LS3 are spaced apart with their operating endstouching the commutator where it has the separated segments. One ofthese three brushes is always active and in contact with a segment andit may be any one of the three. When one is in the active position theother two are spaced one and two spaces respectively away from othercommutator segments. The wiring controls later considered in connectionwith the wiring diagram are flexible so that upon a demand from theprinter for one line space, such a demand is communicated to theparticular one of the three line space control brushes which happens tobe on an active segment. The wiring connections serve to initiate a pairof impulses to activate the start and stop magnets of the random clutchto cause the shift of one line space which also moves the commutatorsegments to pass from one control brush to another. In the event of asetting for double line spacing, then the control is varied to embracethe brush which stands one space removed from a conductive commutatorsegment. The double space control then calls for a stop impulse derivedfrom the secondary control brush source and this necessitates themovement of the commutator and all connected controls including therecord to a position involving two successive brush sensing stations onthe commutator. In this same fashion a triple line space selectionrequires the cooperation of a spaced pair of line space brushesinvolving the brush which is on a segment and a brush twice removed, i.e., in a position which establishes contact only after two degrees ofmovement of the commutator and becomes effective for stopping after thespacing of three line spaces.

A device is provided for producing manually adjusted lateral movement ofthe record forms and the feed devices cooperating therewith by shiftingthe upper frame comprising the main side frames 50 and 51 and thearch-shaped casting 40 (Fig. 2) relative to the heavy lower casting 30(Fig. 8). It is already noted herein before that the upper portion isslidably arranged relative to the lower portion by means of the notchedconstr uctionshown at the left in Fig. 8 and involving the 'a gear 180.In mesh with gear 1 (Figs. 2 and 6a) is 'an -idler gear 181 having incooperation therewith a spring deterit 182 which is formed with aV-shaped portion extending between the teeth of the gear. Also meshingwith idler 181 is a drive pinion 183 which is loosely mounted on a stud184 extending from the side frame 50, and connected to the pinion is anadjustment disk 185 from which there projects a handle 186. When thehandle 186 is grasped and rotated about the center 184, the train ofgearing drives the screw 179 and since the screw is immovable axiallybetween the side frames 50 and 51 it merely revolves therein, but thethreaded connection to block 178 (Fig. 8) causes the production ofrelative movement between the two main frames. In other words, the wholeupper section of the feed unit is shifted laterally along the top of thelower frame 30 and in this way the sets of tractors and record strip R(Fig. l) are shifted laterally with respect to the print heads of theprinter. This form of adjustment makes it unnecessary to shiftthe'four'tractor units individually when it is merely a matter ofcentralizing or shifting the recording control generally. It is onlywhen the form width is changed that a requirement is made to vary thepositions of the feed tractors laterally.

An example is given in Fig. 7 of the construction of one of the pin feedtractor devices. This sectional showing also applies in general to theconstruction of the other three similar units. Assuming that the unitshown in Fig. 7 is a lower tractor unit LTl, then it is driven by shaft122 and supported on shaft 223. The unit is built around a heavy block188 which has an inner section of tubing 189 slidable on the guide shaft223. Attached to 'one side of block 188 is a plate 190 which acts as asupport for a cover, not shown. A bushing 191 on shaft 122 is supportedby'block 188 and loosely mounted with respect to plate 190 but guidedthereby and keyed to the drive shaft 122 by a tapered slidable key 192.Secured on the bushing 191 is a sprocket 193 over which is drawn thechain 194, the regularly spaced links of which are formed with aU-shaped holder 195 having an extension 196 from which there projects afeeding pin 197. At the lower end the chain 194 is drawn around anothersprocket 198 which has aifixed thereon a stud 199 carrying one sectionor inner race of a ball bearing 200, the outer race of which is securedto the elongated frame portion 201 which is formed as part of block 188and provides an elliptical form of support over which the propections196 are slidable and which forms a sort of backing for the thinprojections 196 carrying the feeding pins 197.

The tractors are provided with means for placing them axially along theshafts 122 and 223 and clamping them there as well as providing fortheir shift or removal whenever desired. The inner end of sleeve 189 isformed with a thread 202 and cooperating therewith is a threadedadjustment nut 204 which is loosely mounted on shaft 223 and formed witha cooperating thread and also with an inner shoulder 205 which confinesa split ring 207 of nylon which is suitable to be wedged into thetapered formation 206 formed as a flared end of the sleeve 189. Thus theunit may be placed in any axial position along shaft 223 and then thenut 204 may be screwed down and tightened to cause the ring 207 to bebiased into a wed'ging position against the flared formation 206 asforced by the shoulder 205.

The upper sleeve 191 also has a section of threading 209 for clampingthe tapered key 192 against the shaft 55. Cooperating with this threadedsection 209 is a nut 210 with an inner shoulder 211 passing behind theraised "13 i end formation of the key 192. "For further confiningthe'key and causing it to move with nut 21 0,there is secured on theouter face ofthe nut a circular plate 212 which has a restricted openingaround shaft 122 .and

fastens in front of one end of the key. From'the construction shown, itis evident that when the nut 210 is loosened, the key 192 is drawn alongtherewith to be pulled out of the key way in the sleeve 191 and shaft122.

However, when the nut is tightened in the other direction, the key isnot only inserted, but also clamped towards the center of shaft 122 andheld firmly in the driving.

printer blocks and over to the left,- then the lower tractors assume avertical position as shown dotted at the left. This is done to make thefeed pins more accessible and to insure that the record strip stays onthe pins until it is drawn taut across an adjustable guide cylinder 214which is fastened across the inside of the printer frame. When broughtto the right and into, the operating position, the lower tractor LT1 isseen to be slanted to agree with the angle of a paper guide plate 215which is secured to the feed unit casting 30. It also agrees in positionwith a straight line path from where the record curves around the guidecylinder 214. Therefore,the hinging or pivotal construction of the lowertractors about to be described is furnished for the purposes ofaffording automatic angular adjustment of the lower pin feed chains asmentioned.

The lower tractor drive shaft 122 (Figs. 6a and 6b) passes through tworectangular block's 217 and 218, one near the inner face of each sideframe 50 and 51. ,The blocks are each pivoted on a bushing 219 (Fig.8)extending from the side frame and concentric with the shaft 122. Thusthe two blocks 217 and 218 are pivotally mounted with respect to theaxis of shaft 122 without putting any burden or torque on the shaft.Attached'to the inside faces of the blocks are spring holders and camplates 220 and 221 to which are connected springs 222 tending to pullthe blocks to a vertical position. The two blocks carry between them ashaft 223 which is the supporting means for the lower tractors andcorresponds to shaft 62 of the upper tractors. It is shaft 223 and thetractors thereon which are swung in and out of the vertical positionwhen the holder blocks are rocked about the bearings 219. I

As noted in Figs. 6a, 6b and 8, the lower. ends of cam plates 220 and221 extend downwardly an appreciable extent, the former being bentoffset at 224 and the latter extending straight down. Both lower plateends are in the path of an adjustment rod or shaft 225, (Fig. 10) whichextends across the printer frame. The arrange ment is such that when thefeed unit is pushed toward the printer to be latched thereon, the lowerends of plates 220, 221 strike against the side of shaft 225 and for thelast inch or two, automatically swing the lower tractor frame of blocks2 17, 218 andshaft 223, back to the angular position shown in full linesin Fig. 8. The purpose of studs 227 is to properly position the lowertractors in line with the paper path. After the blocks 217 and 218 havestruck the stops, further motion on the part of the plates 220 and 221will cause the plates only to pivot about the shaft 223 against theforce of the spring 222 and two other springs, not shown, attached tothe studs on the blocks 217 and 218. The purpose of this differentialmovement is to absorb the effects of tolerances andadjustments of thecarriage position for various paper thicknesses. In order to prevent theblocks 217 and 218 from swinging too far under the urging of springs 222"and going beyond the vertical position, an extending washer 228 (Fig.6b) is fastened on the front edge of frame51 and projects to stop block218 in the vertical position.

In order to detect a break in the record material, or the passage of theend of the continuous strip, there is provided a mechanical sensingfinger or lever which ordinarily rides along the surface of theadvancing record material and changes its position when there is a'break or absence of thematerial. It is already noted with refer-, enceto Fig.- 8 that there projects beyond the front of the base casting 30of the paper feed unit, a sheet guide 215 extending across the feed unitfront end position at an angle coinciding with the angle'of the path ofthe record material. This guide 215 is a form of backing plateagainstwhich the ,record material rests and it is slotted vertically inone; position. opposite-a detecting finger or sensing arm 230 attachedtoand rocking with a shaft 231 (Fig. 10) which is carried by bearings intwo large brackets 232 and 233 adjustably fastened on the top of therails 27 and 28 which are part of theprinter frame. In other words whenthe feed unit and the printer are separated by retraction of the twoalong the heavy rods 32, the -guide 215 (Fig. 8) moves along with thefeed unit, while :the sensing lever 230 remains behind because it ismounted onpart of the printer frame. i

. he shaft 231 extends beyond the 'bracket 232 (Fig. 10) at the left andthere it carries a bell crank lever 235 which is attachedto the shaftand formed with a horizontal arm to which is attached one endof a spring236 tending to rock it in-a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 8). Theupper end of spring 236 is attached to an extension 237 fastened tobracket 232. a

The vertical arm of crank 235 is threaded and there extends from'it anadjustable screw, the head of which cooperates with the plunger of amicro switch 238. The switch is fastened to the side of bracket 232along with the extension 237.. d

From the arrangementof the parts as shown in Fig. 8 it is evident thatas longas one or more Webs of paper are present between theguide 215 andthe sensing lever 230 it remains positioned to the right with-the microswitch open. However, upon the absence of paper for any reason, thelever 230 is then free to rock counterclockwise into the opening inguide plate 215 under the urging of spring 236. When the lever is somoved, the

.bell crank 235 is moved along with the rocking shaft 231, and switch238 is operated so that Various controls in' both the printer and feedunit may be signaled to cause stoppage or other control'occasioned bythe absence of record material.

Early in the specification it was pointed out how the feed unit is maderetractable with respect to the printer by being slidable thereonthrough the heavy extending slide rods passing through the blocksfastened to the printer frame. Now it is appropriate to explain how thefeed unit is latched in either of the positions, and the first one to'be considered is the position wherein the feed unit is latched close tothe printer and in position to receive printing impressions on therecord material.

When the feed unit is pushed into cooperation with the printer andreaches the proper position, a pair of latches 240 and 242 (Fig. 10)engage with shouldered latching plates 241 and 243 attached to the sidesof the blocks 232 and 233 already mentioned as being forms of adjustablebrackets secured to opposite sides of the printer frame. The latches 240and 242 are pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane from thepivots provided in the base casting 30- of the feed unit. The side viewof one of such pivotal mountings is shown in Fig. 8 and there it is seenthat a vertical shaft 245 passes through a pair of extending ears 246and 247 formed on casting 30. Between ears 246 and 247 there ispinned toshaft 245 an operating arm casting 248 which is shown in section in Fig.10 and there it is notedthat it has attached to it an extendingoperating handle 249 with an opening 250 into which four fingers may beinserted to grasp the handle and swing it in a clockwise direction todisengage the latches 240 and 242. An adjustable stop 251 projects 15from handle portion 248 and limits the counterclockwise position of theoperating handle. Springs 252 tend to keep the latches rocked inward tothe engaging positions. 7

The disengaging control of the single lever 249 is communicated from theleft side latch 240 (Fig. to the other latch 242 by means of a pair ofrods 254 and 255 extending across the bottom of the feed unit. This isdone by attaching to the lower ends of the two vertical shafts 245,double ended levers 256 which are formed with holes to receive the endsof the rods 254 and 255 which are connected to the levers on theopposite shafts 245. In Fig. '10 it is seen that the rods crossnear thecenter of the feed unit and this is done because it is necessary toreverse the direction of movement of the latch operating parts becausethe latches swing inwardly in opposite directions.

The latches are released by movement of the handle in a novel manner bya combination of movements involving the eccentricity of the pivot and apositive rotary actuator. The eccentric manner of mounting the latchesof shafts 245 is illustrated at the right in Fig. 10 where it is seenthat the portion of the shaft 245 passing through the pivoting end oflatch 242 is formed circular with a ring or crank portion 258 which iseccentric with respect to the long shaft portion 245 connectedtherewith. This offset arrangement 258 is also shown in dotted lines inFig. 8. With this kind of construction it is apparent that when lever249 (Fig. 10) is rocked clockwise, the eccentric mounting of bothlatches tends to rock forwardly and therefore the shouldered points ofthe latches are shifted forwardly to the partly open position asrepresented by the dotted line position 259 at the right in Fig. 10. Ina converse fashion, when the feed unit is being assembled on theprinter, the counterclockwise motion of the lever 249 will tend to drawbackward on the latches and cause them to clamp tightly against thelatch plate shoulders and thereby compress the soft bumper members orrubber washers 260 which are mounted on the slide rods 32 and presentedbetween the abutting ends of the feed unit and printer unit castings.

However, it is not sufficient for withdrawal of the feed unit that thelatches should be merely moved forward. It is necessary that they berocked out of the path of the latch plates and this is performed byrocking means about to be described. Loosely pivoted on each shaft 245(Fig. 8) is an arm 262 which is on the same hub with the double endedlever 256 and located just under the latch 240. Arm 262 is formed withan upstanding lug or tab 253 which is keyed into a notch 257 in theeccentric portion 258 for ease of assembly and positive connection. Thisarm 262 (Fig. 10) is also formed with an upwardly positioned extension263 on which there is an adjustment screw 264. The screw end is in thepath of a projection 265 formed on the latch 240 near the pivot. Asimilar arrangement of lever 262, screw 264 and extension 265 isassociated with the other latch 242 shown at the right in Fig. 10. Afterthe lever 249 has rocked the eccentrics 258 through about 90 degrees ofmovement, the screw 264 on lever 262 then comes into an abuttingrelation with the extension 265 on the latch to swing the latch. Theensuing movement is represented at the right in Fig. 10 where it is seenthat the second degree of movement of latch 242 is represented by thedotted line 267 showing the position of the latch after it has beenoperated both longitudinally and with rotation. Therefore the operationof the lever 249 through a swinging motion of about 90 degrees causesthe latches to not only be retracted, but also rocked out of the path ofthe latch plates so that the paper feed unit isdisengaged and free to beretracted.

The carriage latch is so arranged that the natural unlatching movementof the latch handle from right to left (Fig. 8) corresponds with therequired carriage movement from right to left when opening. The carriagemaybe closed against the printer, regardless of the position of thelatch handle with out danger of damage to the latch.

, Rejoining the feed unit carriage to the printer is also a simpleoperation. When the lever 249 is rocked back near the home position thefirst thing that happens is that the springs 252 cause the latches tofollow along after the arms 262 and the latches move inward ready forlocking action. Then the two units may be brought together andfinallythe lever 249 operated to bring it to a closed position againstthe side frame of the feed'unit and in so doingthe latches are drawnbackward andthe two units are joined firmly with a clamping actionexercising pressure onthe bumpers.

Inorder to compensate for various thicknesses of the record materialwhich may be comprised of one or more layers of continuous forms andcarbon strips, there is provided a means for varying the joiningposition of the feed unit on the printer. This is done by shifting the'latch plates 241, 243 (Fig. 10) so that the feed unit is held in aposition allowing room for a variable number of strips between theribbon of the printer and the platen bar 63 of the feed unit. In orderto shift the position of the latch plates, the blocks 232 and 233 uponwhich they are mounted are shifted by eccentric portions such as section269 shown as formed near one end of shaft 225 and passing through ablock 270 which is held in a U-shaped opening in the top of block 232.Although the parts will be described with reference to the sectionalshowing at the lower left hand corner of Fig. 10, it will be realizedthat the construction is duplicated at the opposite end of shaft 225 toshift the two latch plates in synchronism. Turning again to the mannerin which shaft 225 governs the thickness adjustment, it will be notedthat this shaft is mounted in adjustable eccentric bushings 281 neareither end, said bushings being in the vertical walls of a pair ofstationary brackets 271 and 272 secured to the top of the base frame 29of the printer unit. These eccentrics 281 are separately adjusted for anaskew correction which is in addition to the common thickness adjustmentcontrol of shaft 225. The shaft ends project beyond bushings 281 withtwo eccentric portions such as portion 269 .which passes through thenotch opening of the adjustable blocks 232 and 233. Each of these blocksis held on a printer base by three large screws 273 which pass throughslots in the brackets 232 and 233. When it is proposed to make anadjustment, the blocks 232 and 233 may be shifted longitudinally underthe shouldered screws 273. Oversize holes are provided in these blocksto permit such movement. Blocks 232 and 233 are positioned and guided bystrips 274 (Fig. 8) fastened to the printer frame which fit into slotsin the bottom of these blocks running parallel to the support rods 32.The square blocks 270 which are formed with cylindrical openings throughWhich the eccentric portions pass are seated in the U-shaped openingscut into the top of brackets 232 and 233, and these square blocks 270are held over to one side and made readily removable by a clamping piece274 which is pressed into position by an adjustable screw 275 whichpasses through the one side of the U- shaped opening and has a lock nutfor holding it and the block 270 in position.

In order to twist shaft 225 to variable angular positions and therebyrotate the eccentrics to shift the latch blocks back or forth, there issecured to the left end of shaft 225, a manipulative knob 276 whichextends beyond the left side of the printer. The extending portion ofthe shaft upon which the knob is fixed is supported in a detent block277 which projects from a bracket 278 fastened to the rail 27 formingpart of the printer frame. Near the ends of shaft 225 there are attachedcollars 279 for confining the shaft laterally. Detent block 277 has twodiametrically opposite spring loaded ball detents 17 projecting from itsouter face against the inner face of the knob 276 which in turn hasconical detent holes radially displaced therein so as to give controlledincrements of spacing.

There are times when an adjustment other than the parallel motionprovided by eccentrics 269 is required. Then the separate bushings 281may be turned individually in the fixed brackets 271, 272 and in thatway either end of shaft 225 and the corresponding latch plate may beshifted to align the platen with respect to all print heads. Anotherposition maintaining device cooperates with the bracket blocks 232 and233 in all positions. This other device forms a sort of prop between thefeed unit and the printer unit and takes the form of the bolt 283 (Fig.which is threaded into one end of block 232 and provided with a lock nutfor holding it in the adjusted position. The head of bolt 283 cooperateswith a machined surface 284 out into the side of the base casting 30 ofthe feed unit. The bolts 283 are adjustable in order to absorbtolerances in the carriage latch system. Thus the first operation is toadjust the stop bolts 283 so that the latch will draw up the carriagesnugly against the printer and yet not require excessive handle pressureto latch. Once adjusted, readjustment of the bolts 233 is never requiredfor changes in paper thickness or for skewed alignment of the platen.

It is explained hereinbefore how the feed unit is latched in place whenit is in position to receive printing impressions. It is also requiredthat the feed unit should be stopped and held in a certain position whenit is retracted away from the printer unit. In other words, it is notenough merely to put enlarged portions on the ends of the sliding rods32, but there should be some assurance that when the units are separatedand the operator has her hands between them that they should not cometogether. In order to provide such a stop and latch arrangement for theretracted position, there is pivoted a swinging latch dog 288 (Figs. 8and 9) on the side of the printer unit and pivotally mounted on center2E9 extending from the side of block 34. A compression spring 287between block 34 and the inside surface of dog 288 tends to hold it inthe angular position to which it is turned. Cooperating with this dog288 is a latching member 290 fastened to the end of the slide rod 32 bynut 291. Latch member 290 is formed with a long upper section and has across-sectional area in the form of a reclining L-shape. The long upperportion of 290 normally slides over the top of dog 268 (Fig. 8) which isnormally positioned in a horizontal manner, as shown, and the retractingmember 290 is unobstructed in the movement to the left until the smalllower extension 292 strikes against the lower portion 293 of the dog androcks it in a clockwise direction. Then the dog assumes the positionshown in Fig. 9 where a pointed portion at the upper left corner of thedog is projected through a slot in the top portion of the member 290.Thus the retracting rod and member 290 is not only brought to a halt bythe rubber bumper, but the dog 288 is also projected up into a latchingposition to prevent an immeoiate return movement of the feed unit. Inorder to impart a return movement of the feed unit to the closedposition towards the printer, it is necessary to give the unit and theattached latching member 2% another short retracting movement to swingthe dog 288 further clockwise to a vertical position in the slots, andthen the feed unit is free for movement toward the right and in so doingagain swings the dog 90 degrees more in a clockwise direction and backto the horizontal position of Fig. 8.

When the feed unit and the latching parts carried thereby are connectedin the proper position ready to receive printing impressions, anindication is given that the printer may proceed to operate. This isdone by the operation of a switch 295, the operating member of which isstruck by the end of a slide rod 32 when the feed unit'is properlyassembled as shown in the lower righthand corner of Fig. 8.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to' a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theprinting machine formed with two sets of aligned open-j ings toreceivesaid rod ends for sliding movement theremeans for holding said feeddevice in a closed position with respect to the printing machine readyfor the record therein to receive printing.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 with two latching devices forholding said feed device either in a closed print receiving position, oran open retracted position wherein the parts are accessible.

4. The combination with a printing machine and a record feed devicecooperating therewith, of a device for adjustably connecting said recordfeed device to said printing machine comprising a printing device and arecord feeding unit associated therewith, said feeding unit having aplaten at one end, said printing device having printinginstrumentalities on an end facing the platen, of a separable joiningmeans between the feeding unit and the printing device including a pairof spaced latches on one and latch plates on the other which are engagedby said latches, and means for varying the positions of said latchplates, whererby adjustment is made to vary the space between the platenand the printing instrumentalities in accordance with the number oflayers of record material comprising the record.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 and shiftable blocks on whichsaid latch plates are mounted, and manipulative eccentrics cooperatingwith said blocks to change the position of the blocks and latch plates.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 and a shaft and separateadjustable eccentric bushings therefor, and wherein said eccentrics areon said shaft which in turn is mounted in said separate adjustableeccentric bushings mounted on opposite sides of the machine, wherebyseparate lateral aligning adjustments may be made to correct askewsetting of the feeding unit relative to the printing device.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4 and a pivot rod for each latchhaving an eccentric portion whereon each latch is pivoted, an arm alsomounted on said rod with a lost motion connection to said latch, andmanipulative means for rocking said rod with two degrees of movement,the first movement serving to swing the eccentic latch pivot portion sothat the latch is shifted away from a shoulder on the latch plate, andthe second movement causing the arm to engage and swing the latch therewith away from the shoulder on the latch plate to release the feedingunit for retraction.

8. The combination set forth in claim .7 wherein said latches and pivotrods are duplicated on opposite sides of the unit, said manipulativemeans including a handle attached to one rod, and a pair of double endedlevers on the rods with crossed connectors for transmitting themanipulative movement from one side to the other.

9. In a record feeding device, record advancing means comprising a linespacing device and means for making 2. The combination set forth inclaim 1 with latching a minute adjustments of the record positionrelative to the spacing device including a set of planetary gearingbetween the driving and driven parts of said advancing means, saidgearing including a worm gear the helical ridges of which act as gearteeth in planetary gearing, and manipulative means for rotating saidworm gear to cause minute changes in the position of the planetarygearing and the record position.

10. In a record feeding device, a plurality of sets of pin feedtractors, said sets being arranged to define a confined record path ofless than 180 with respect to 2. reference point on the path, a pivotalmounting for one of said sets, a retracting means for said feedingdevice, spring means tending to draw said pivoted set to a positionwherein the record path is widened when the feeding device is retractedrelative to an operator on the record, and an operating means forautomatically swinging said pivoted set back to define the confined pathwhen the feeding device is restored from the retracted position.

11. In a pin feeding device, a tractor pin feed unit with a pair ofsprockets over which is drawn a chain with extending pins, 21 pair ofshafts upon which said unit is mounted, one of said shafts carrying oneof said sprockets for driving the unit, and the other shaft carrying asupporting frame for the unit, the other sprocket being mounted forrotation on said frame, means for locking said frame in an adjustedposition on said other shaft comprising an annular wedge shaped ring onthe frame and embracing said other shaft, a cylindrical split ring to beforced between the wedge ring and said other shaft, and a threaded nuton said frame for forcing said split ring between the Wedge ring andsaid other shaft, said drive sprocket being keyed to the first-mentionedshaft by a tapered key with a head, and a shouldered nut on said frameto engage said key head and thereby serving to extract the key when itis turned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSPentecost et a1 Aug. 14, 1951

